Lighter construction



March 18, 1947. AVCAMPOS 2,417,630

LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 18,1947. A. CAMPOS 2,417,630

LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 17, 1944' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m i asflak/pk Cam 20s,

Patented Mar. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHTER CONSTRUCTIONAdolph Campos, Clifton, N.,J.

Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,882

(Cl m-7.1)

4 Claims.

This invention appertains to a lighter construction for pocket andpersonal use, and has for its primary object to provide a wick andliquid fuel type thereof, in which certain mechanical refinements areembodied that make for greater sim- ,plicity and efiiciency inmaintenance and operation; the ignition and extinguishing functionsbeing automatically accomplished by a single hand manipulation of acombined spark producing and flame snuiler mechanism.

Another object of the invention has to do with the provision of alighter of this kind,'wherein the wick is carried in a, holder that isfrictionally seated in the filling opening of the reservoir for its easyremoval and replacement during replenishment of the fuel supply,evaporation of the liquid fuel through the wick, during non-use of thelighter, being prevented by the engagement of the flame snuffer over thewick and holder.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a lighterconstruction as hereinbefore characterized, wherein the actuator of theigniter and snuffer mechanism, when manipulated to cause the igniting ofthe wick, takes position that portions of the same function to shieldthe flame against extinguishment by the wind.

With these and otherobjects and advantages of equal importance in view,the invention resides in the certain new and useful combination,construction, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described. set forth in the appended claims, and illustrated intheaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side'elevation-of the improved lighter, in accordance withthe invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation; t

Figure 3 is a vertical section, taken through the line 3-3 on Figure 2,looking in thedirection of the arrows; a

Figure 4 is a sectional viewsimilar to that of Figure 8 is afragmentary, vertical transverse section, taken through the line 8--8 onFigure 5, loo-king in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts in the several views, the improvedlighter, as it is exemplified therein, is comprised in a verticallyelongated body or casing I 0, which is open at its upper and lower endsand houses a tank l2, to serve as a reservoir for a supply of a liquidfuel. The tank l2 has an angled top wall, a horizontal part l4 beingdisposed flush in the plane of the upper end of the casing l0 and asecond horizontal part l6 connected to the part M by an inclinedintermediate part l8, that is disposed inwardly from the upper end ofthe casing, the part l4 having an inwardly flanged filling opening 20,into which, a holder 22, for a wick 24, is screw threaded. Dependingwithin the tank I2, from the holder 22, is a guide tube 26 for the wick24 to direct its feed upwardly of Figure 3, but showing therelativepositions of the snufler and windshield parts after the ma-' nipulationof the actuator to cause the igniting of the wick;

Figure 5is a vertical section, taken through the line 5-5 on Figure 2,looking in the direction of thearrows;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section, taken through tween the ears.

plemental ears 3|], each substantially semi-circular in form andapertured to receive an end of a pin 32, that may take the form of abolt, upon which a cylindrical bearing 34 is supported be- Mounted forrotation on the bearing 34, is a sleeve 36, which has its ends formed toprovide complemental sets of notches or teeth 38 and a, pair of notches40, separated from the teeth 38, into which a pair of lugs 48, formed ona cover casing, are engaged. The cover casing isformed from a sheetmetal blank, that isshaped to provide a top wall 42 and dependingsidewalls 44, with rear portions of the ertured for engagement over theopposite ends of sleeve 36; the aforesaid lugs 48 being formed on theperipheries of these cars for engagement in the line 6-5 on Figure 5,looking in'the direction i of the arrows;

Figure '7 is another horizontal section, but taken through the line 1-1on Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; and t the notches!in the, sleeve; the space, within the main casing I0, above the lowerand sloping portions l6 and I8 ofthe top wall of the latter,

is a file-wheel 50, which is positioned thereon between a pair ofratchet wheels 52 that are formed with, or secured to, the file-wheelfor simultaneous rotation, relatively to the sleeve.

Extending angularly through the tank l2, from a point of open connectionwith the horizontal top wall portion [6 and immediately adjacent thelower end of the intermediate sloping top wall portion I8, is a flintfeed tube 54, which has its lower end opening through a front angledportion l4, of the bottom wall of the tank. This wall portion I 4' isconnected to a rear horizontally disposed wall portion l6 by anintermediate angled wall portion l8, as is best shown in Figure 5. Aflint 56 is positioned in the upper end of the tube 54 and is urgedagainst the under side of the file-wheel 50 by means of a coiled spring58, the lower end of the tube being closed by a screw plug 60, that isaccessible for removal and replacement by means of a proper tool, e. g.,a screw driver, to be inserted through an opening 62, formed in thefront side wall of the casing 10. Arranged in juxta-position to theflint feed tube 54, is a tubular magazine 64, to house a replacement'flint 56, and it has its lower end opening through the angled wallportion 14 and closed by a screw plug 66, which is also accessible fortool application from the opening 62,

Mounted within the front end portion of the cover casing 42, is acylindrical member 68, which functions as a snuffer to extinguish theflame at the wick end, when the cover casing is normally positioned.This member 68 is formed of sheet metal and in a manner to have twoparallel strips cut out from its upper end and extending rearwardlytherefrom, after being given a twist, as at 10, to form a pair of flatresilient pawls l2 engaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 52, sothat, when the cover casing is swung upwardly and rearwardly, they willimpart rotary motion to the ratchet wheels and the file-wheel 50.cansing the latter to abrade the flint 56. With the opening movement ofthe cover casing, the snuifer member 68 is lifted from its engagementwith the wick end and sparks from the flint 56 are directed 'upwardly ofthe sloping wall l8 to ignite the latter V The igniter and snufiermechanism just described is to be actuated by means of a substantiallyU-shaped member 74, which is engaged about the front and opposite sidesof the tank l2, in spaces between the same and the opposed walls of themain casing l0, it being understood that the rear side wall of the tankis secured to the like side of the main casing, in any suitable manner.The vertical edges of the opposite side wings of the actuator member 14are toothed, as at 16, and engaged with the notches or teeth 38,

formed in the sleeve 36. Extendingdownward from the inner ends of theopposite side wings of the actuator member I4, through the spaces at theopposite sides of thetank l2, are a pair of arms 18, that have theirlower ends secured, as at 80, to a push button 82, which is slidablyhousedwithin the lower end of the main casing l0, below the bottom wallof the tank 12. This pushbutton 82 is of dished form and has the lowerends of thearms'ltl projecting into the same alongside the opposite sidewalls thereof,

against which, they are held by a spacer sleeve are provided withcutouts 84. This actuator mechainsm is sustained in its inactivecondition by means of a coiled spring 88, which has one of its endsseated in a socket 90, formed centrally in the bottom wall of the tankl2, and its other end engaged by abutted lugs 94 formed by theout-turned ends of a split collar 92, engaged on the spacer sleeve 84'.

In operation, an upward push on the push button 82, depresses the coiledspring 88 and forces the actuator member 14 to move vertically withinthe spaces between the main casing Ill and the tank l2, during whichmovement, rotative movement, in an anti-clockwise direction, is impartedto the sleeve 36, through the engagement of the teeth 16, on theactuator member, with the notches or teeth 38 on the sleeve. Thisrotative motion of the sleeve 32 is transmitted to the cover casing 42,through the lugs 48 engaged with the notches 40, on the sleeve, and itis swung upwardly and rearwardly to a substantially vertical position atthe rear side of the main casing. In this movement of the cover casing42, the snuffer member 63 is lifted from the wick end and, at the sametime, a rotary motion, also in an anticlockwise direction, is impartedto the ratchet wheels 52 and the file-wheel 53, causin the latter toabrade the flint 55 for the spark igniting of the wick end. Upon therelease of the push button 82, the coiled spring 86 expands in adownward direction, forcibly returning the operative parts to theiroriginal positions. As best shown in Figure 4, in the elevated positionof the actuator member 14, the upper end portion thereof projects fromthe top end of main casing I0 and encloses the wick end to shield theflame against being extinguished by air currents, this portion of themember 14 being provided with sets of openings 14' at the opposite sidesof the same to admit sufficient air to support combustion at the wickend.

Without further description, it is believed that the novel featuresincorporated in this lighter construction will be readily comprehendedby those skilled in the manufacture of devices of like character, andthat its ease of operation and the refinements in its design will beappreciated by the purchasing public. Also, it is to be understood thatchanges in design and minor details of construction may be resorted to,provided such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lighter construction comprising a casing open at its upper andlower ends, a fuel tank positioned within the casing inwardly from thelower end thereof and having an angled top wall, said angled top wallhaving an upper horizontal portion lying flush in the plane of the upperend of the casing and a lower horizontal portion spaced inwardly fromthe upper end thereof, the

upper horizontal portion of the top wall being at opening, a wick holderremovably seated in the filling opening, a, file-wheel mounted forturning movements between the side walls of 'said casing and immediatelyabove the lower horizontal portion of said top wall, a cover mounted'forpivotal movements coaxially with respect to said filewheel, a snuffercup mounted within said cover, actuator means extending through saidcasing and betweenthe same and said tank and operatively connected withsaid cover to move the snuffer cup from and to its flame snufiingposition, a flint supported in contact with said file-wheel and meansfor transmitting the motion of the cover to the file-wheel during itsmovement to expose the wick for igniting by the sparks emitted from saidflint.

2. The lighter construction as in claim 1, with an end wall and adjacentportions of the side walls of said fuel tank spaced from the opposed endand side wall portions of said casing for the extension of said actuatormeans through the space for its operative connection with said cover.

3. The lighter construction as in claim 1, with a flint feed tubeextending angularly downwardly through said tank from a point below thefile wheel and opening through the bottom wall of the tank adjacent awall of said casing, and a removable closure for the lower end of saidtube, said casing having an opening in its said wall for access to saidremovable closure.

4. The lighter construction as in claim 1, with said spark producingmechanism including a file 20 wheel, a flint feed tube extendingangularly downward through said tank from a point below the file wheeland opening through an angled portion of the bottom wall of the tankadjacent the front wall of said casing, and a screw plug closing thelower end of said tube, said casing having an opening in said front wallfor access to said screw plug.

ADOLPH CAMPOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,944,177 Holtzman Jan. 23, 19341,847,790 Steinfield Mar. 1, 1932 2,289,113 Florman July 7, 1942 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 58,411 Austrian Mar. 26, 1913 376,860British July 21, 1932

